What Factors Affect the Estimated Asphalt Paving Life Expectancy?
When an asphalt paving company needs to estimate the life of a pavement, the contractor will need to consider the answers to several questions.
1. Is this an asphalt overlay or a new pavement?
2. Is it a residential or commercial paving project?
3. What is the volume of traffic that the pavement will receive over the course of an average day?
4. Will the pavement be used only by passenger vehicles, heavyweight trucks, or a combination of both heavy and lightweight vehicles?
5. If there is an existing pavement that failed prematurely, has the cause of the failure been identified and corrected?
What Is the Difference in the Life Expectancy of an Asphalt Overlay?
Asphalt overlays look and perform virtually the same as new pavements, but they are much more economical. The life of an overlay installed on a residential driveway that is only used by three or four passenger vehicles is typically between 12 and 15 years. An overlay installed on a section of an interstate highway with a high volume of traffic will usually last no more than 10 years. Depending on the volume and weight of traffic, a parking lot overlay usually lasts between 10 and 15 years.
What Is the Asphalt Paving Life Expectancy for New Parking Lots?
If the parking lot supports a high volume of heavyweight trucks, the average life expectancy is around 15 years. Parking lots that support an average number of passenger vehicles only can last 20 to 25 years if properly maintained.
How Long Do Asphalt Streets Last?
Lightly used streets in residential areas can last for more than 20 years. Busier streets, including major arteries and the sections of highways that run through a major city, will have an average life of 18 to 20 years.
What Are Some Tips for Maximizing the Life of an Asphalt Pavement?
Different pavements can benefit from different strategies for maximizing their lives, so some of the following tips may not be relevant to your pavement. However, asphalt paving Traverse City contractors typically recommend the following.
1. Start by choosing an experienced, reputable asphalt paving company to build your pavement or install your asphalt overlay. Your choice of a paving company can determine your long-term satisfaction with the results.
2. When you need an asphalt repair, contact your asphalt contractor to handle it as soon as possible. Postponing repairs will only allow the damage to worsen.
3. Keep your pavement clean. Remove debris and clean up puddles of automotive fluids regularly.
4. Maintain your sealcoating. New pavements and overlays should be sealed within 12 months of their installation. Your asphalt contractor can recommend the timing of subsequent applications, but the interval is normally around two years.
5. Enforce weight limits in your parking lot. If your parking lot was engineered for passenger vehicles, you should not allow tractor-trailers or heavy equipment to use your lot.
6. Make sure that your pavement drains properly. Clogged grates or overflowing gutters can force water beneath the edges of your pavement.
7. Assess the condition of your pavement every few months. This will allow you to identify and correct minor problems before they turn into major ones.
We have many years of industry experience, and we have established an extraordinary reputation for quality, integrity, and service. We offer a wide range of services and products, including Asphalt Paving, Safe Seal Sealcoating, Parking Lot Striping, Asphalt Milling, Snow Removal, Asphalt Patching, ADA compliance, Crack Repairs, and Infrared Asphalt Repair. We offer free quotes, so submit our online request form today at GlobalAsphalt.com. If you prefer, you can call us at 231-715-7899 or 800-ASPHALT. Contractors call ahead to purchase bulk Safe Seal sealcoat, Derry crack sealants, and other asphalt supplies.
